Automatic movable dam.



C. E. GRUNSKY.

AUTOMATIC MOVABLE DAM.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. n. I914.

1,179,520. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

WITNESSEW hiflggzjzsy J 4 fl", BY

' A'rro KN BY THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., wAsmNflTON, D. c.

To all whom it may concern:

cant. E. enUnsKY, or snn rnANcIsco, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC MOVABLE DAM.

Specification of Letters-Patent. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed November 17, 1914. Serial No. 872,551.

.Be it known'that I, CARL'E! GRUNsKY,

a citizen of the'United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented newcand useful Improvements in Automatic Movable Dams, of which. the following is a specification. l V

This invention relates. to dams, and pertains especiallyto an automatically operable wicket or shutter adapted when the body of confined water in the dam reaches a predetermined level to release a surplus volume of water without any lmpairment to the dam. I The invention consists of the parts and the combination and construction of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompan ing drawings, invwhich Figure 1 is a cross sectional view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the down-stream face of the shutter. i I

A represents adam or embankment; 2 a spi'llway and 3' the movable wicket or shutter arranged the spillway and constituting the present invention. This shutter is adapted to be normally supported in uptilted position, as shown in full'lines Fig. 1, so as to retain the body of water behind it, andto be turned down into horizontal present instance-I have shown it supported by struts 4:, arranged 'd'own stream,.having dotted line position Fig. 1, automatically by the rise of the water in the dam to a point which might prove dangerous to the structure, or to a level above which, for other reasons it may not be desired to have the water rise. This supporting andautoQ- matic tilting of the wicket may be accomplished by any appropriate means. In the th'eir' lower ends pivotally supported at' 5 and their upper ends pivoted at 6 to the back of the shutter; The supporting points 6 at which the struts'meet the shutterare at such elevation above the lower edge of'the shutter-that when the water up-stream from the dam reaches or closely approachesflthe top of the shutter the water pressure against the face of the shutter above the points 6,

- at its cresti- -This equilibrium -is overco me will be very nearly equal to the water pressure against the face of the shutter below the points 6; the shutters being in equilibrium orvery nearly so, when the water is ter.

by allowing a sufiicient quantity of water from the dam to flow into a pocket formed in the wicket above the. centers 6, in a man ner now to be described.

Shutter 3 comprises a. rather flat, hollow box-like structure, having an enlarged water compartmentor series'of compartments 7 at the top which will be filled when the water reachesthe crest thereof, and which will then ove'rbalance and tilt the shutter.

The inlet orinlets '8 to-the'compartments 7 are on the up-stream side of the shutter, and are of ample capacity and are placed below the water. surface, sothat trash floating on the water will not be carried into the shut- Small openings 9 on the down-stream side or back of the shutter allow the escape of air as the shutter fills with water. Water entering at 8 is directed upwardly within the shutter through suitable ducts 9 into the compartment or compartments 7 and may thence flow down through the shutter gradually filling the latter, and eventually escaping through'a restricted opening 10 in the bottom of the shutter at the back there? of; a baflie'll at the bottom of the shutter I serving to check the flow of water and preventing a too rapid escape at 10. The lower edge of the shutter is inclined downwardly and forwardly as shown at 12, and is supported in uptilted position against HTSllltable ledge or abutment 13 in the :bottom of the spillway; ledge 13 forming the rear wall of a recess whose inclined bottom 14 is nor? mal to the face of the shutter when the latter is in uptilted operative position. Anti-friction rollers-15 are provided on the lower end of the shutter to run on the inclined bottom l t and are so arranged that when the shutter leaves its seat against the ledge or wall 13 water will flow under the shutter, aiding the water already in therecess or pocket 16 in the spillway in which the shutter will lie when down, to break the fall of the shutter. Pockets 17 are arranged in the spillway bed to receive the struts 4: whenthe parts are in-collapsed horizontal position. e

The parts being supported in operative position as shown in Fig. 1, the operation I will be as follows: The water rising above ing the shutter'and the enlarged water comp fllm l S- h -fi iQg-Qfwater com.-

partment or compartments 7 progresses, the

center of gravity o f-the shutter vvill gradually be shifted to a point down-stream from the supporting centers 6 at which the struts, connect With the shutter, whereupon ,the" bottom of the shutter .Wlll move forward 1 lip-stream away fromits 'supporting'sill 13. Water will thus rush underatheIloWer-iedge of the shutter below the rollers 15, and will also flow over the topiof the shutter; The shutter will thus befforced" down' byvvater pressure "from above to a horizontal position in the pocket 16 which is provided to receive it,and vvater Will flow over it With-- out obstruction." "Theshutter is constructed bfv'somematerial heavier than ater and will remain in a fiat position When down and filled With Waters: Any appropriate means may b'elemployed torr aise the shutter 2'0 again into operativeposition. In the present instance "I havefshovvn vthe relief openings 10; Which are arranged nearfthe two ends of the shutter and adaptecl-to register with air conduits 18 adaptedtosupply 'air underpressure from any suitable source .of'

supply, not necessary =here to be shown. With airpipes 18 and openingslO in regisii ter, air under'pre ssureis admitted 'to the interior of the. shutter until enough Water has beenreplaced by air to float the shutter; a baffle l9iibeing arranged in thebottom of the compartment '7 so that" more air Will be held in the'pa'rt of the shutter below the buoyant, the water being expelled under the baflie2'19: When the shutter is: floated by' Y 40 centers 6 than in the'part' above. The 'baffies 1'1 and 19 form with the side and front 'Walls of the shutter a compartment which confines the.air-"therein to render the shutter air to the Water surface, power is applied to theiopposite'edgeor crest edge .of theshutt er by suitable means, as achain'QO. Under the influence of thisforce andof the Water pressure on the face of the shutter below points '6', the bottom edge of the shutter; Will be forced against its seat 13, and will 'remain' there untilathe Water again rises-to its crest. The'upWard'movement of the shutter is checked by. suitable means, *as: locating the outside supporting struts, in a recess 22 in the abutment Walls of theispillvvay, so

arranged that WhenYthe necessary height has been reached by the struts it Will vbe checkedl-JF: I-

' 'itItw'illlbe manifest that various changes in "details; of constructionimay'be rmade with v out departing from the principle oftheinvention; 7

Having thus describedmy'invention;tvhat I claim 'a'nd desire to secure byLetters Pat ent .isi. J l I 1 1. An automatiemovable dam comprising itir 'combinationfa' shutter, a plurality of struts=pivotally connected at their lower ends to fixedz: supports and. at their; upper ends to the shutter, said struts adapted to sition,'means controlled by a predetermined high Water level for overbalancing the. shutter 'above thel strut bar pivots and lowering it into a horizontal position in a receiving pocket, said means comprising a chamber formed in the interior of the shutter, and means for admitting water to saidchamber.

2. An automatic movable daincomprising in combination, a 'hollowshutter, a' plurality normally hold the shutter in an upright po- 7 of struts pivotally connected 'at-their-lower ends 'to fixed sup'portsand attheir upper endsto the shutter, said struts adapted to normally hold the shutter in an upright mined high Water level for 'overbalancing "the shutter about" the strut "bar Pivots'and lowering it into a horizontalfposition in a receiving pocket, said means comprisingan upper and lower compartment formedin terior of the shutter, means for admitting Waterto said compartments, means for raisng the shutter, said means comprisingan vi 1 3112" connection for admitting air into the lower compartment to make the shutter buoyant 'to partlyraise. same, a lifting position, means controlled by a predeter-: I

chainiforraising the shutter the remaining distance to upright position, and means-for 'discharging'. the fvvater remaining in the shutter whenthlssls raised.

3. An automatic"movabledam, or dam V crest, consisting of a hollow shutter, suppo'rtingr mean's;iengaging-r;the shutter at V lip-stream 'from-lthef dam;ieaohesthe top of points xof-y's uppor't" so. fthat'livvhen the. Water the: shutter-ithe Water pressure- ;against the face :of the shutter below saida'pointi of sup: 7

pressure :of the: up str'eam Water; on 'the.;face

ter Will be over-balanced and; will automatig cally assume 'a "horizontal position 1 falling into' a recess prepared' to'jreceive it thereby releasing the'up-stream Water. 5 1* i 4:. :An rautomatickmovable dam, F or -Edam 3 5 crest,:; consisting" of {a hollow shutter, .811199 porting meansengag ingthe shutterat-points ofsupport so that when the Waternp-stream from the dam reaches the top:of the-shutter the Watert'pressure against the facei :of;'the i ii- 120v approximately counterbalance? the #PRSSHH? ofvthe .up-zstream- 'Water' on f. the fabl -r Qfi: :th

shutter? above said points :ofsfuppofif :m ans forl an inflow: offwaterinto the hollowshutg- .tr at? a predetermined elevation" of the HP;-

Willbe overbalan'ced and' will automatically assume aihori'zo'ntal position fallinginto ia w 12 5 7 V streamwaterlsurface,whereby-the shutter recess" prepared to receiyie ;iti;thereby.--releafs plying air to'the interior of the shutter vwhen the shutter is down, which by displac- V crest, consisting of a hollow shutter, supporting means engaging the shutter at points of support so that when the water upstream. from the dam reaches the top of the shutter the water pressure a'gainst the face of the shutter below said point of support will approximately counterbalance the pressure of the up-stream water on the. face of the shutter above said point of support, means for an inflow of water into the hollow shutter at a predetermined elevation of the up-stream water surface, whereby the shutter will be overbalanced and will automatically assume a horizontal position falling into a recess prepared to receive it thereby releasing the up-stream water, means for supplying air to the interior of the shutter when the shutter is down, which by displacing the water contents of the shutter will cause the shutter to float and rise, and means for applying'power to turn the shutter on 4 shutter, a rigid strut connected at one end to the shutter for pivotal movement only and adapted for holding the latter operative whereby on the admittance of water into the shutter the latter will overbalance on its pivotal mounting for tilting, the shutter being provided with an opening for admitting water at a predetermined level. 7 A movable dam comprising a shutter provided in its upper part with a water compartment and means for admitting water thereinto for causing a movement of the shutter to inoperative position, and means for supporting the shutter in. an operative position and connected pivotally to the latter at a point below the water chamber.

8. A movable dam comprising ashutter,

and means pivotally supporting the shutter between its ends in upright position, the shutter being formed with a water chamber extending above and below the pivotal mounting and provided above the latter with an enlarged" water compartment for receiving water to eflect a tilting of the shutter.

9. A movable dam comprising a shutter,

and-means pivotally supporting the shutter between its ends in upright position, the shutter being formed with a water chamber extending above and below the pivotal mounting and provided above the latter with an enlarged water compartment for receiving water to effect a tilting of the shutter, means for admitting waterto the chamber, and drain means provided for the chamber of theshutter below the pivotal mount-1 ing.

10. A movable dam comprising a shutter, and means pivotally supporting the shutter between its ends in upright position, the shutter being formed with a water chamber extending above and below the pivotal mounting and provided with an entrance passage extending upwardly within the chamber to admit water at a level about the mouth of the passage.

11'. A movable dam comprising a shutter, and means pivotally supporting the shutter between its ends in upright position, the

shutter being formed with a water chamber extending above and below the pivotal mounting and provided with means for admitting thereto and draining water therefrom, means for discharging the water from the chamber to render the latter buoyant, and a baifle arranged in the chamber adjacent to the water admitting means for confining with the chamber Walls the buoyant space during. the discharge of the water.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL E. GRUNSKY.

Witnesses A. K. DAGGETT, JOHN F. WILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (1. 

